Young Leaders Allocate £50,000 Grants to Support Change in Lancaster & Cumbria!
A groundbreaking initiative led by Lancaster District CVS and Cumbria Youth Alliance has resulted in a momentous distribution of grants worth a total of £50,000 across Lancaster and Cumbria. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Francis Scott Trust in 2023, the Break the Mould project, led by 16 to 24-year-olds, demonstrated remarkable foresight and community-driven action in redefining grant-making processes within our region, in setting their own priorities and criteria for how the money should be used.
The Break the Mould team undertook a challenging task, meticulously selecting seven projects from an impressive 47 applications across Lancaster District and Cumbria. The process wasn’t easy; the quality of submissions was exceptional, making the selection process a difficult yet rewarding endeavour.
“Making the final decision was really difficult but also very rewarding. There were so many great applications that we struggled to pick which ones to go with. I think we came up with the right decisions in the end and we can’t wait to see the difference we make. “ – Layla (17)
Congratulations go to the seven organisations selected. Grants were made to St John’s Hospice, Lancashire Youth Challenge, Kent Estuary Youth Project, Always Another Way, Kendal Brewery Arts Centre, North Allerdale Development Trust, and iCan Wellbeing Group. Now with funding, their projects will deliver activities across the Lancaster District and Cumbria. St John’s Hospice will establish a Young Persons’ VOICE Group, integrating youth in decision-making for child bereavement strategies. Kendal Brewery Arts offers ‘Future Creatives – Young Music Producers,’ inspiring 16-24-year-olds in music production, mental health improvement, and creative career pathways. ‘Always Another Way’ in Egremont will focus on low-level preventative mental health support for vulnerable youth aged 16+.
The group of young minds behind the programme showed incredible commitment and innovative vision during the process towards shaping a brighter community offering for young adults in the region. The collaborative efforts of Lancaster District CVS and Cumbria Youth Alliance brought to life a trail-blazing initiative that has enabled young people to take the reins, to make pivotal decisions in funding crucial projects across Lancaster and Cumbria. This transformative and unique approach, backed by the unwavering support of the Francis Scott Trust in their 60th birthday year, has revolutionised a new standard for grant-distribution, propelling a fresh perspective on youth-led initiatives and nurturing the potential of young leaders.
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Notes to editors:
Press contact: Nick Smith, Lancaster District CVS, The Cornerstone, Sulyard Street, Lancaster, LA1 1PX, 01524555900, [email protected]
For Further Information:
Lancaster District CVS
www.lancastercvs.org.uk
Lancaster District Community Voluntary Solutions (LDCVS) is a registered charity founded in 1972. We have a strong history of supporting the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector (VCFSE) and ensuring these organisations are visible, valued and heard.
We guide, represent and support over 500 charities across Lancaster District.
Over the years, we have also helped organisations connect with thousands of volunteers.
Our core work supports:
- Collaboration through partnership meetings
- Shared learning through events
- Training and funding advice
- Administering grants on behalf of organisations
- Organisational development
- Financial services
- Providing volunteering support and resources to organisations and individuals
Break the Mould Project
www.lancastercvs.org.uk/break-the-mould/
In 2023 the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust celebrated 60 years of supporting work with young people that has been delivered by a range of exceptional local, regional, and national organisations. To mark this milestone year, the Trust asked local young people to distribute funds on its behalf. Between June and September 2023, a group of 14 young people came together to design the framework for a new grant scheme. Launching on the 29th of September, the scheme was available to constituted organisations that worked directly with young people aged 16-24 living and working in Lancaster and Cumbria. The project is supported by Cumbria Youth Alliance and Lancaster CVS and funded by the Francis Scott Trust.
Why youth led?
Break the Mould is a project for young people, delivered by young people. Often the decisions that will impact young people aren’t made by them. The grant scheme has amplified the voices of local young people, enabling them to have a say on things that will impact them.
Cumbria Youth Alliance
www.cya.org.uk
Cumbria Youth Alliance is a leading charity for the development and quality assurance of youth provision in Cumbria with a vision that all young people can thrive to achieve a sustainable and positive future. They are a membership organisation, supporting, engaging, and working in partnership with the infrastructure of Youth Organisations throughout Cumbria, to enable delivery of a range of needs led programmes so that young people can reach their full potential.
Their focus is supporting the physical, mental health and wellbeing, attainment, and emotional development of young people across the county ensuring that young people can make a successful transition into adulthood.
Francis Scott Trust
www.francis-scott.org.uk
The Francis Scott Trust is a grant maker and social investor working through trusted local partners to improve the life chances of young people. Their role is to work in partnership with excellent local organisations striving to create the best conditions for all young people across Cumbria and Lancaster District. We do this through funding, investment, and organisational support.
As a youth-focussed funder, they endeavour to listen, learn, and share knowledge, taking an active role in supporting and developing initiatives which promote this important but under resourced sector.
